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Big Paul is the Lion King
Paul O’Connell of Ireland and Munster was confirmed on Tuesday as the captain of the 2009 British and Irish Lions rugby team to tour South Africa later this year.
The 37-man squad was announced by tour manager Gerald Davies in London on Tuesday and coach Ian McGeechan then took the podium to call on O’Connell to take charge of what will be the 13th Lions to tour South Africa.
Davies, a Lion in South Africa in ’68 and in the victorious side that went to New Zealand in ’71 described the forthcoming tour “as the last great rugby adventure”.
“I’d like to think we’ll play a smart game that will make for a great tour,” Davies added.
McGeechan added: “This obviously remains the ultimate challenge for every rugby player.”
The Lions selectors have come up with a side containing plenty of pace in the backline to exploit South Africa’s hard fields but also some of the hard men of rugby in the British and Irish isles.
O’Connell becomes the fourth successive lock forward to be put in charge of a Lions team to South Africa -- following Willie John McBride in 1974, Bill Beaumont in 1980 and Martin Johnson in 1997.
The Lions of 1974 player 22 games, won 21 and drew one and the Johnson’s class of ’97 shocked the Springboks by taking the three-match series 2-1 at a time when South Africa were also the reigning world champions.
O’Connell commented (about the captaincy): “It’s not something I ever aspired to… but you look at the players in the squad, you I look at the legends that have gone before… I believe it’s an incredible honour.”
He is the tenth Irishman to skipper the Lions and the 27th captain of the tourists.
Ian McGeechan, who will be taking charge of fourth Lions squad, selected 37 players -- 17 backs and 20 forwards.
The country by country breakdown is -- England 8, Scotland 2, Ireland 14, Wales 13.
Reflecting on Ireland’s Grand Slam in the Six Nations O’Connell is one of a record 14 Irishmen selected for the tour. Ireland’s previous highest was 11 in 2005.
He is also one of a record equalling eight players from Munster. That total equals the eight Leicester Tigers who toured New Zealand four years ago.
Three national captains from the 2009 Nations have failed to make the party -- Steve Borthwick (England), Mike Blair (Scotland) and Ryan Jones (Wales).
There are 13 players in the party who have played for the Lions before, of which four will be making their third tours -- Brian O’Driscoll (2001, 2005, 2009), Ronan O’Gara.(2001, 2005, 2009), Simon Shaw (1997, 2005, 2009) and Martyn Williams (2001, 2005, 2009).
Simon Shaw is the only survivor from the 1997 test series winning tour to South Africa. He will be the oldest member of the party at 35.
Other players who are making a second tour are -- Shane Williams, Tom Shanklin, Stephen Jones, David Wallace, Paul O’Connell, Donncha O’Callaghan, Gethin Jenkins, Phil Vickery, Andrew Sheridan.
Cardiff Blues and Wales wing Leigh Halfpenny will be the youngest member of the tour party at 20.
Leinster and Ireland wing Luke Fitzgerald follows his father, Des, into the Lions colours. Irish prop Des played for the British Lions against the Rest of the World in the 1986 IRB Centenary game in Cardiff.
David Wallace will be hoping to follow in his brother Paul’s footsteps by winning a test series in South Africa. It will be David’s second tour, taking the family tour total to four (Richard 1983, Paul 1997 and David 2001 and 2009).
The full squad is as follows:
Fullbacks
Lee Byrne (Wales) Rob Kearney (Ireland)
Wings
Shane Williams (Wales) Leigh Halfpenny (Wales) Ugo Moyne (England) Luke Fitzgerald (Ireland) Tommy Bowe (Ireland)
Centres
Tom Shanklin (Wales) Jamie Roberts (Wales) Brian O’Driscoll (Ireland) Keith Earls (Ireland) Riki Flutey (England)
Flyhalves
Ronan O’Gara (Ireland) Stephen Jones (Wales)
Scrumhalves
Mike Phillips (Wales) Harry Ellis (England) Tomas O’Leary (Ireland)
No 8s
Jamie Heaslip (Ireland) Andy Powell (Wales)
Flankers
David Wallace (Ireland) Stephen Ferris (Ireland) Alan Quainlan (Ireland) Joe Worsley (England) Martyn Williams (Wales)
Locks
Alun-Wyn Jones (Wales) Paul O’Connell (Ireland) Captain Donncha O’Callaghan (Ireland) Simon Shaw (England) Nathan Hines (Scotland)
Props
Gethin Jenkins (Wales) Adam Jones (Wales) Andrew Sheridan (England) Phil Vickery (England) Euan Murray (Scotland)
Hookers
Jerry Flannery (Ireland) Lee Mears (England) Matthew Rees (Wales)
The team’s management is:
Manager -- Gerald Davies; Head coach -- Ian McGeechan; Forwards coach -- Warren Gatland, Defence coach -- Shaun Edwards; Backline coach -- Rob Howley; Technical adviser -- Graham Rowntree.
The Lions’ ten fixtures are:
May
Saturday 30 vs Highveld XV at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace 15.00
June
Wednesday 3 vs Golden Lions at Coca-Cola Park 19.10
Saturday 6 vs Cheetahs at Vodacom Park 15.00
Wednesday 10 vs Sharks at the ABSA Stadium 19.10
Saturday 13 vs Western Province at Newlands 15.00
Tuesday 16 vs Coastal XV at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium 15.00
Saturday 20 vs SOUTH AFRICA at the ABSA Stadium 15.00
Tuesday 23 vs Emerging Springboks at Newlands 19.10
Saturday 27 vs SOUTH AFRICA at Loftus Versfeld 15.00
July
Saturday 4 vs SOUTH AFRICA at Coca-Cola Park 15.00
